We all know LeBron James as ‘the superstar’ of the sporting world. But, what we really don’t know is the factory behind the curtains. The 4x NBA Champion is undoubtedly a dominant presence on the court. However, off the court, he isn’t King James without the presence of the ‘Four Horsemen’, the crew that took care of the legend’s business. And Randy Mims is an influential personality in the mix, who once almost dragged the superstar into murky waters for a PED investigation.

Randy Mims, aka Ernie Ramos, has been around LeBron James since age 5. Ramos stuck around the Chosen One and found himself an important role in the hooper’s business team, as chief of staff. According to Bleacher Report, King James met Ramos at the Akron housing projects and continued to grow with him.

If at all the superstar’s business crew, which includes Rich Paul, Maverick Carter & Randy Mims, needs an introduction, it’s safe to say that they helped LeBron James become a billionaire despite being the highest-paid player only once in his NBA career. The crew managed all investments, which approximately amount to $500 million. In the multi-million dollar business, Ernie Ramos took care of James’ ever-tight schedules, and in short, he is the personal manager of one of the greatest basketball players in the world.

“Blessed that we found each other” – LeBron James is grateful to have Randy Mims on his side

It’s not like LeBron James pretended as if the strong crew behind him never existed. In fact, the superstar addressed it as early as 2004. In an interview with BET’s Rap City, he said, “I don’t want nobody to think this is my entourage. This is my business side… King James, Inc., we’re trying to lock down the business side,” introducing his crew. Most importantly, the Akron Hammer was able to identify the potential in his friends and looked beyond the business degrees.

Moreover, in a 2018 interview with Andscape, James also added, “Watching my three brothers grow into serious businessmen with purpose fills me with so much pride.” He continued, “I always knew there was something special about Randy, Rich, and Maverick and that, together, we were going to do something very different. I am so grateful and blessed that we found each other. And know my life would be very different without them.”

While everything seemed to have gone on the right track, there was a moment when it all could’ve derailed. And it could have been because of his childhood buddy, Randy Mims.

Randy Mims and the scary DEA investigation for PED usage

Everyone is still aware of The Biogenesis Clinic which nearly took down baseball. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a probe in the early 2010s under the suspicion of usage of performance-enhancement drugs (PED). 21 players, including Alex Rodriguez, found themselves on the wrong side. While the sporting world moved past the infamous DEA investigation, LeBron James’ name came to light with a bang even though reports clearly state that the hooper hasn’t used PEDs in his career. But his name popped out because of Randy Mims. Apparently, Mims purchased testosterone for personal use from Carlos Acevedo, a known dealer.

A DEA investigator said, “There was never any indication that LeBron James did anything wrong.” And also clarified that Mims purchased the drug as a treatment for his overweight. Nevertheless, the investigation didn’t cause any harm to the superstar’s reputation or his friendship with his childhood buddy.

LeBron James’ showcases his unconditional love for Mims

Despite all the ups and downs, the duo have continued to keep their brotherhood alive. Randy Mims doesn’t express much about his friendship with James, but if he does, he hits it out of the park. During King James’ monumental feat to become the all-time leading scorer of the NBA, Mims penned a heartwarming write-up. The last line of it read, “We got a brotherhood that can’t be broke!!!”

Importantly, it isn’t a one-sided affair. LeBron James never failed to appreciate Randy’s efforts whenever he gets the opportunity. And, also never failed to make his special day even more special. On his recent birthday, James took to his Instagram stories, shared a picture of Mims, and wrote, “Happy Born Day to my brother fr fr!!! Ain’t sh*t w/o champ! Let’s keep going! Love you.” 

On the other hand, despite the abundant love that Randy Mims received from James, he has continued to keep himself grounded throughout his stay with the superstar. In a special documentary with ESPN, he said, “Nobody’s paying to see Randy Mims. They’re coming to see the big fella. I could really make this about me but like 16 years ago I left my ego at the door.” 

LeBron James heads into his 22nd NBA season and has almost reached the end of his career. It also means his business crew has come full circle. Even though they will continue to work together after his retirement, it’s a big deal to stick together for over 20 years.

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.